The French petroleum industry union says governments are too lax in applying rules on oil tankers and has called for Europe-wide laws forcing shipping companies to publish safety reports for all tankers. "We think shipping rules are good, even if they could be improved. But governments have not done their job in making sure these rules are respected. It's been going on for 20 years," Philippe Trepant, chairman of the French Petroleum Industry Union (UFIP), said. Trepant said international maritime rules obliging countries to carry out safety checks on tankers were not always respected. "Flag countries have a responsibility to check tankers sailing under their flag but some of them aren't serious about it...Port states are obliged to inspect one in four incoming ships…
